My name is Gloria Stewart, since 2008 I have organised a Christmas lunch for some of the loneliest people of south Yorkshire, it is called Home Alone. I feel very privileged that the people of south Yorkshire have helped and supported me to give a little back to our forgotten society, After all these people didn’t ask to be lonely, it can happen to any one of us, Myself and many others are all guilty of living in our own little bubble, not giving a second thought as to how these people cope day to day. We all take what we have for granted until it is no longer there. Please spare a thought for some of our most lonely, and help me give them just one day that they feel that people do care, and they do belong to our society, the lunch is for any age group, 16yrs and over, because you cannot put an age on loneliness, Home Alone was started in 2008 after a chance meeting in an hospital waiting room with an elderly lady, after hearing that since the loss of her husband four years previous, she had taken a flask of tea and a packet of biscuits and spent the festive season in bed, This was not an isolated case, there were others who told a very similar story, I came home looked around me and felt very fortunate that I had a loving family around me. This lady had made such an impact on me that I needed to try and resolve this guilty feeling that was swirling round in my head. So I set myself the task to bring just a few lonely people together for one day .I sent loads of letters out to people like you, who may want to help. The people were so generous that 87 people benefitted from the generosity of others, and they all had a wonderful day. The numbers have gone from the 87 to 287 the second 300, year three, and over 400 last year. Some of these people have now made friends and still keep in contact with one another. May I thank you for taking the time to read my plea, if you would like to find out more please call 01142 570460 and ask for Gloria.